Background and purpose: Intravenous thrombolysis using tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can improve patient outcomes in acute stroke if administered within 3 hours of onset. However, patients with aortic dissection should avoid tPA therapy due to the possibility of tPA administration inducing rupture of the aortic dissection. We studied the frequency and clinical characteristics of stroke patients presenting with aortic dissection within 3 hours of onset.
Methods: Among stroke patients admitted to our hospital within 3 hours of onset, we examined the frequency of patients presenting with aortic dissection. Next, we examined the clinical characteristics of such patients, including cases published on PubMed.
Results: Among 208 stroke patients presenting within 3 hours of onset, 2 patients (1%) displayed aortic dissection. Carotid duplex ultrasonography could exclude them from tPA therapy. For 19 patients, including 17 published cases from PubMed, median age was 61.0 years, 47% were women, right pulse weakness was seen in 70%, chest pain in 22%, and lone left hemiparesis in 72%. In 6 patients, carotid ultrasonography showed arterial dissection due to aortic dissection.
Conclusion: Aortic dissection may not be a rare complication in acute stroke within 3 hours of onset. Right pulse weakness and left hemiparesis are often present. Carotid ultrasonography may be useful in diagnosing aortic dissection before tPA infusion.